DeRozan, Raptors hold off Sixers

Dec 14, 2013 - 3:15 AM
Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - DeMar DeRozan netted a game-high 27 points,
as the Toronto Raptors held off the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-100, on Friday at
Air Canada Centre.

Terrence Ross registered a season-high 24 points, while Amir Johnson supplied
17 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who have won two of their last
three games on the heels of a five-game slide.

"I just have to stay focused, do my job, and know my role," Ross said of his
breakout game.

Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons and Patrick Patterson all made their Toronto
debuts after being acquired from Sacramento in exchange for Rudy Gay, Quincy
Acy and Aaron Gray on Monday. Vasquez scored 12 points, Salmons had three and
Patterson netted five in the win.

Evan Turner tallied 21 points and 10 boards, while Tony Wroten scored a team-
high 23 points for the Sixers, who have dropped 10 straight on the road.

Philadelphia trailed 96-82 with just over seven minutes left following three
consecutive 3-pointers from Toronto, but Wroten's triple at the other end
sparked a 16-4 Sixers' spurt that he capped with a layup to bring the visitors
within 100-98 with 1:56 to play.

However, Ross responded with a trey of his own, and the Sixers failed to
register another field goal the rest of the way, allowing the Raptors to use
an 8-2 swing to close out the victory.

"You got to give them credit. They made big shots and big 3-pointers," Sixers
head coach Brett Brown said of the Raptors. "But I'm happy with our effort."

Ross fueled the Raptors in the early going, scoring 12 of his team's first 20
points to help Toronto take a 20-12 lead 6:21 into the game.

The Sixers answered with a quick 8-2 swing to get within two, but Toronto
closed the quarter on a 14-1 run to build some separation heading into the
second stanza.

DeRozan and Johnson powered the early stages of the surge before Salmons
capped it with a 3-pointer -- his first bucket as a Raptor -- to make it 36-21
at the end of one.

Philadelphia scored the first 12 points of the second to cut into the margin
before tying the tilt on two free throws from Wroten with 3:30 on the clock.

The Sixers went the final 2:02 of the half without a point, though, and the
Raptors closed the frame on a 7-0 sprint to take a 56-48 lead at the break.

An 11-0 Sixers' spurt late in the third got the visitors within 76-74, but
Toronto tallied seven of the final nine points in the period to build an 83-76
lead heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Philadelphia has allowed 100 points or more in 11 of its last 12 games ...
Philadelphia's only victory away from home this season came in its first
road contest in Washington on Nov. 1 ... Toronto shot 40 percent (10-of-25)
from 3-point range ... Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young finished with 18 points.